When my husband, Dave, turned 60, I contacted some 125 people, asking them to write letters about what knowing Dave had meant to them. I received back more than 100 responses, which I presented to him in an album for his birthday. Some of the respondents had worked with him. Some had worshipped with him. Some had watched the way he'd navigated life while dealing with decades of illness with his first wife. All of them, however, had witnessed his life marked by integrity. I couldn't help but wonder how many individuals even know 125 people, much less feel comfortable with their recommendations.

We read in Proverbs 22:1 "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches." The making of that good name happens every hour of every day in every way we think, speak, and respond. The "who" that we make the good name for is our spouse, our children, our family and our friends, as well as perfect strangers we meet on the street, in the grocery store, or at work. The "what" criteria that gives us a good name is doing the right thing, showing integrity in whatever comes our way.

Daniel lived in Babylon, the birthplace of all that opposes God--idolatrous religions and mythology, greed-based commerce, and secular government. But Daniel is proof that corruption in Babylon does not have to take place. We, too, can live out our lives with integrity in our Babylon. But it has to be deliberate, not accidental. Where did Daniel make his integrity so intentional?

A well-known event occurred in chapter 6 of Daniel. He was cast into the lion's den. Before that happened, however, we learn important things about his integrity, those things that gave him his "good name":

1. He demonstrated an "extraordinary spirit" (v. 3). Daniel didn't have what Zig Ziglar calls "stinkin' thinkin'." No matter what the day held, Daniel had a good attitude. As a result, people wanted to be around him, and his life glorified his God. How's your attitude?

2. He was a diligent and faithful worker (v. 4). Daniel didn't have to witness around the water cooler. His actions and devotion to his work became his unspoken attraction. Daniel's testimony of God's work in his life was verified through what he did on the job, whether the task involved was large or small, important or mundane, rewarded or ignored. How's your conduct at work?

3. He lived a pure life v. 4. After both public and private scrutiny, they found "no negligence or corruption in him." How many of our politicians can we say that about? Even if we find a good track record in the public sector, how do they treat their spouse and children? And what about you? Do you make sure your conduct remains above reproach when others are watching as well as when it's behind the scenes?

4. He maintained a consistent walk with God. (v. 10). Daniel could do numbers 1-3 because he did number 4. He didn't just run to God when things got hard, when he faced his lions' dens in life. Instead, he had a place where he regularly met with God in prayer. His upstairs windows were always open toward Jerusalem when he prayed. Though the temple had been destroyed by the Babylonians, Hebrews considered it to be the center of God's earthly attention (2 Chr. 6:18-40). Daniel could find God anyplace because he had some place where he talked with Him routinely. How's your quiet time? Is it a must in your day?

Probably none of you has to deal with "big sins" such as theft or murder, but what about the smaller ones? Taking home supplies from the office. Fudging on your taxes. Telling "white" lies. They're easy to do and a lot more acceptable to onlookers.

But because Daniel kept his response to the little things in check, he had no trouble staying faithful when the bigger things came along. In chapter 1 we see he "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies." He was ready for the greater challenges because he had been practicing, purposing in his heart, making deliberate his choices in the smaller things. If he'd failed at the earlier challenges, he wouldn't have stood a chance with later ones. Integrity doesn't develop apart from consistent resolve. It wasn't for Daniel, and it won't be for you and me.

When you line up your greatest achievements, your greatest riches, put "a good name" right there at the top. If you do and when you do, you'll become more consistent about guarding and maintaining it. Colossians 3:23 tells us, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

But men are watching, and what they see will or will not draw them back to your Lord. That's the reason we're on this earth. And believe me, integrity's an effort worth making.